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SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish

neofuturistic architect, structural
engineer, sculptor and painter

HISD 202-History of Architecture and Interior Design 2

Dr. Maha Al-Bustani
Assignment 2 – Post-modern Architecture
Spring 2015-16
Group members:
Azaliya Bakauova F1415001535
Nabaa Albeer F1415001893
Sara Dughmosh F1314000573
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Quotes :
• “I am always searching for more light and space”

• “There was a wish to get something exceptional,…I also wanted to deliver

something technically unique”

• “Moment gives an added dimension to form. It makes form a living thing. Instead
of thinking of a building as something mineral, like a rock, we can start to
compare a building to the sea, which has waves that move, or to a flower whose
petals open in the morning”

• “I wanted to do a very slender building, and a very transparent one”

• “I have tried to get close to the frontier between architecture and sculpture and
to understand architecture as an art”
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Theoretical positions

• What is his attitude towards the functional role in design

He rejected the idea of “form follows function” and his post-

modern structures suggest stylized natural
objects(waves,wings,etc). His idea is to focus more on aesthetical
aspects rather than structural.

• What is his attitude towards the communicative value in Architecture

Architect is trying to communicate with people through his

buildings which are defined as sculptures.
He had a clear vision of inside and outside, curved inwards and
outwards, of how we face the specific world

“I have tried to get close to the frontier between architecture

and sculpture. And to understand architecture as an art.”
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Theoretical positions

• What is his attitude towards the role of Technology

“I am an engineer, not just
in architecture an architect, so I’ve
always been motivated by
• By designing his projects he is focusing on technique or technology.
technologies because the buildings are at A soon as technology
once natural and structurally impossible moves just a little bit, it
• The structures are energy efficient changes architecture.
There is progress”

• What is his attitude towards the main sources of inspiration , history in specific

Calatrava had different sources of inspiration from

different aspects of life such as human figures,
nature’s creativity and experimentation of
materials and their properties such as concrete.
Historically, he was mostly inspired by the byzantine
style, Hagia Sophia in specific.
The use Gothic cathedral elements such as flying
buttresses, arches, vaults and central nave.
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Theoretical positions

• How can you describe his design strategy in dealing with these sources (copy or simulate)

Calatrava simulate post-modern ideologies by

reversing it by distorting,stretching and folding postmodern elements to
their maxium limits. He is achieving it by using his engineering knowledge

• What is his attitude towards fitting architecture in context (place & time )

Santiago is a follower of post modernism era:

“He taught readers that
• Post modern architecture is a style of architecture which gives as much they deserve beauty and
meaning and must
importance to the appearance of the building as their functionality
demand it in their cities.
• “Uniqueness” borrows various stylistic aspects from different structure He taught me, and many
architects, that we must
and combines them to create a unique building
answer this demand and
• Symbolism never stop challenging
ourselves”
• Sculptural forms
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Case study by Santiago Calatrava

Project overview of L’Hemisferic

Location : Valencia, Spain In the middle of
the city
Year : April 16, 1998
Type : IMAX Theater
Style : Postmodern

Concept
• Caltrava’s concept was to build the city
of knowledge, he took the human eye to
represent it, and to be known after that
as the “eye of knowledge“
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Case study by Santiago Calatrava

Form
• Form from the human eye. Each side
of the eye-shaped building opens
and closes like the eyelids of an eye

Spaces
• The globe of L'Hemisfèric (the
Planetarium), which also houses the
Omniax theater, is roofed over by an
elliptical shell structure and placed
within an elliptical pod that cradles it
like the pupil of an eye.
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Case study by Santiago Calatrava
Structure
• The concrete socket of the eye incorporates
• Aluminum awnings that differ in length and fold upwards collectively, or
as individual units.
• Form a brise-soleil roof that opens along the curved central axis of the
eye shape.
• The concrete encasement has been extended upwards, and the brise-
soleil narrowed and replaced by a system of slats mounted on each side
of pivoting, to imitate the structure of a feather.

Materials
• Concrete
• Steel
• Glass
Integration with the site
• “As the site is close to the sea, and Valencia is so dry, I decided
to make water a major element for the whole site using it as a
mirror for the architecture.”
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Case study by Santiago Calatrava
Project overview of Tenerife Auditorium
Location: Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Spain. Situated between
the Marine Park and the edge of the port
Year : 1997 - 2003
Type: Arts complex
Style: considered late modern architecture

Concept
What is unique about the concept of this
building is that it does not have a specific
one , in other words , Caltrava wanted to
be ‘ suggestive ‘ , as few has suggested
that the concept is a (huge tongue ) others
believe that its ( the form of a wave )
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Case study by Santiago Calatrava
Form
The building is composed of number of organic
and curvy elements, which gives a very unique,
distinctive and complex form

Spaces
The building is divided into two
chambers , the rest are gardens ,
entrances and parking .
-under the platforms that surrounds the
building , there is the auditorium ,
which also have many spaces
including the terrace towards the
Atlantic ocean
Interiors :
• The chamber symphony
• The chamber room
• The hall
• The harbor and castle galleries
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Case study by Santiago Calatrava
Structure
• The building is comprised of a base of successive
platforms from which protrudes the heavy curved
arch of the Main Hall.
• The large dust jacket affixed at about fifty meters
high, it provides flexibility and movement of the body
as if it were animated.
• The building was entirely constructed using reinforced
concrete to achieve the complex from of it .
Materials
• Exterior :
Steel structure covered with
concrete .
• Interior :
Pressed solid Wood covered with
fiber glass
Plaster
Integration with the site
The auditorium connects the city to the ocean and
creates a significant urban landmark.
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Local case study
Project overview of Cayan Tower,Dubai
Project opening: June 2013 Building Height: 307 m
Use: Residential Levels: 75-storey building
Location: The lower part of the Area: 111,000 m2
building is oriented towards the Architects: Ross Wimer,
George J.Efstathiou
Dubai Marina Walk
The upper part is facing the Gulf
Concept

Design was inspired by the

human DNA composition
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Local case study
Form
• It has 90-degree twist sculptural form.
• Building’s form follows its structural framework.
• Hexagonal floor plates rotate around the
circular base .

Space

• Floor plates are all identical. The same form of

systems used on every floor
• Building spaces include central circulation
corridor and residential units
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Local case study
Structure
Basic structural system for the tower is a cylindrical core

Stepped columns scheme

Cylindrical core
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Local case study

Materials
• Reinforced concrete
• High-performance glass
• Metal cladding panels helps to shade the
building interior from intense sun

Integration with the site

• The twisting shape makes the building stand

out from the architectural disharmony of
the Dubai waterfront
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Conclusion of Case Studies
L’Hemisferic Tenerife Auditorium Cayan Tower

Form Organic form inspired organic and curvy 90-degree twist;

from human eye elements Form follows its structural
framework;
Floor plates rotate around
the circular base
Space Open, circular,and Open, fluid, and solid Enclosed, identical
transparent spaces, and has central
circulation
Materials Concrete, steel, and Steel and concrete Concrete, glass, and
glass metal panels

Structure concrete socket, Base platforms and Stepped columns scheme,

aluminum awnings, cylindrical core
and concrete
encasement
Integration with the site Water used as a It connects the city to the Twisted shape creates the
reflection of the ocean and creates an architectural disharmony
building urban landmark of the surroundings
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References
• Santiago Calatrava, 1951: architect, engineer, artist, by Jodidio, Philip

2007

• Engineering: Santiago Calatrava.by Petroski, Henry,American Scientist, 03/1997,

Volume 85, Issue 2

• http://www.calatrava.com/

• http://www.archdaily.com/tag/santiago-calatrava

• http://www.arcspace.com/features/santiago-calatrava/

HISD 202-History of Architecture and Interior Design 2

Dr. Maha Al-Bustani
Assignment 2 – Post-modern Architecture
Spring 2015-16
Group members:
Azaliya Bakauova F1415001535
Nabaa Albeer F1415001893
Sara Dughmosh F1314000573